My text of the week1 The last one caused a lot of reaction. Some agreed, others did not. But most praised the transparency of this text which aimed to explain why we use the expression “extreme right” to The Press.
As with any complex issue, this text also raised its share of questions. Here are a few.
“You make a connection between nationalism and the extreme right in your text. But I am Quebecois and a nationalist. Am I far right in your eyes? »
No. My text deliberately focused on Europe, and on France in particular. Not in Quebec.
There is something eminently historical, cultural and also contextual in the use of political labels. Nationalism is a good example, as confirmed by the Larousse which offers two distinct definitions of the word “nationalism”.
In Quebec, we are closer to the first definition: a political movement of individuals who are aware of forming a national community because they share a language, a culture, and who want to create a sovereign state.
Whereas in France, it is the second definition that prevails: nationalism is associated with the extreme right because it “affirms the predominance of the national interest in relation to the interests of the classes and groups which constitute the nation.”
“Why not follow the example of the author you cite in your text, Charles Sapin, who prefers the expression “nationalist parties” to “extreme right parties”, as he explains well in his book The Harvests of Wrath ? »
To avoid the confusion that I am referring to in my answer to the previous question. If The Press described the National Rally and Reconquest! of “nationalist parties”, this would put them on an equal footing with all the so-called nationalist parties in Quebec, which would certainly pose a problem.
“You say that the far right brings together populist parties, in that they defend a people opposed to elites whom they consider disconnected, even predatory. And they are nationalist parties, in that they center their discourse on the nation as the pivot of political action. They thus come to the defense of a national community that they consider threatened, both by uncontrolled immigration and by criminal abuse. I would like to understand how the CAQ or the PQ do not correspond to this definition. »
This is why we talk about the right of the right, that which is at the extreme of the political spectrum. She does not only seek to be close to the people, she portrays herself as being in defense of a people oppressed by elites and institutions who would seek to crush them. She doesn’t just want a reduction in the influx of immigrants, she wants to regain national purity by sending foreigners home or withdrawing their rights. Etc. So many positions that we could not, in all honesty, associate with Quebec parties.
“To the right of what?” To the left of what? Where is the center, which seems very subjective to me? Each individual or group can consider their opinion to be central…”
Interpretation of the political spectrum can change from person to person, of course. But there is nevertheless a common position of what is located to the right and left of center.
Basically, on moral issues, the right is more conservative, it values traditions, law and order. While the left is more reformist, progressive, it seeks social change and a redistribution of wealth with the aim of making society more egalitarian. The center is sandwiched between the two, in addition to sometimes being divided into “center right” and “center left”.
“Why don’t you talk about the far left?” If we follow your logic, Mélenchon’s La France insoumise (LFI) is to the left of the traditional left and adopts extreme positions. By your own reasoning, that would also justify her being called far left, right? »
Yes. Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s party could be labeled extreme left or radical left The Press, in particular because of its very critical approach to capitalism, in the same way as the Communist Party. The angle of last week’s text focused on the right in the wake of the European elections. LFI was credited with less than 10% of the votes, compared to 40% for the National Rally and Reconquest! Hence the argument essentially relating to the use of the expression “extreme right” in the perspective of the legislative elections.
“The expression “ultra-right” seems more appropriate to me. Certain positions of the ultra-right reflect the ambient insecurity. »
I understand your point of view. But the definition that has become established in France in recent years regarding the ultra-right refers to more violent and openly xenophobic groups. This is the use made by law enforcement, for example.
“I wonder how you came to consider your readers as being incapable of understanding French to the point of having to include the translation, into English, of certain terms […]. The decline of French in Quebec, do you want to counter or encourage it? »
We use English words to The Press occasionally for the sake of accuracy. For example, the use of the expression far right was intended to explain that we use “extreme right” in the sense of a right at the extreme of the political spectrum. I do not believe that a handful of English words in a daily edition which contains around 40,000 words during the week (65,000 words on Saturday!) causes the French fact to decline in Quebec.
1. Read “Far right, you say? »
Write to François Cardinal